A natural gas pool heater for an in-ground pool is a reliable and efficient option for heating your water all year round or during cooler months only. Outdoor temperatures may not stay high enough for a sufficient amount of time to adequately warm your pool water, without the help of a heater.
On average, natural gas burns about 1 therm per 100,000 BTUs per hour (British Thermal Units). Meaning, an average pool heater between 300,000 and 400,000 BTUs will cost anywhere from $3.30 to $4.40 per hour to heat your pool.
By nature, gas heaters have a greater environmental impact than electric. However, electric takes longer to heat up your pool water and is less efficient in colder temperatures. This is because they rely on outside heat to warm up the pool water. You can avoid these issues, however, by using a pool cover.
A heat pump needs between 24 and 72 hours to heat a swimming pool and between 45 and 60 minutes to heat a spa.
Pool heaters have the potential to be an incredibly worthwhile investment if a family wants to utilize its new pool year 'round, or even just well into school starting in the fall. ... However, if a family only plans to use a pool in the hot days of summer, a pool heater is not as necessary.
Pool Heater Pricing
There are also different types of pool heaters to choose from. On average, to install or replace a pool heater it's going to cost you between $1,000 and $4,000. Installation alone can start at $500 and run up to $1,000. The average pool heater costs nearly $3,000 for the heater and installation.
According to the World Health Organization, water temperatures ranging from 78 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit are generally comfortable and safe for those engaging in moderate physical activity in a pool.
Not only will it be tough to keep the heat in your pool on colder nights but you will also spend a fortune trying to heat your swimming pool. So unless you have money to burn, it's best not to run your heater at night on an uncovered swimming pool.
We would recommend at least an 85,000 BTU heat pump for a 20,000 gallon pool. If you would like to extend your swimming season into the late Fall or early Spring or you live in a colder area we would recommend a larger unit like the AquaPro 112,000 BTU or AquaPro 137,000 BTU models.
If you want an energy-efficient way to heat your pool, consider using a heat pump pool heater in mild climates. Solar water heaters are cost competitive with other types of water heaters and have low annual operating costs.
The efficiency of the heater? Physicist: The correct answer is always to leave the heater off for as long as possible, as often as possible. The one and only gain from leaving a pool heater on is that it will be warm when you get in. The same is true of all heaters (pool, car, space, whatever).
Gas pool heaters – Gas heaters use combustion to heat pools and heat very efficiently. They're not the eco-friendliest heating option, but they are one of the most efficient in colder weather. They run at around $2,000 to $2,800.
A 100,000 BTU heater uses 1 therm of natural gas per hour, so a 400,000 heater consumes 4 therms an hour. 4 therms an hour x $1.67 = $6.68 per hour. So the magic number based on the most common 400,000 BTU pool/ spa heater is $6.68 per hour in gas cost to run your heater.
Night Air is Cooler
Sometime, the air temperature will drop even lower than the pool water. Since the pool water temperature will not change that much within one or two hours, the cooler air makes the water feel warmer than it was previously.
As long as you are willing to wait for the pool to heat, it is cheaper to turn off the heater when you aren't using the pool. BTUs are BTUs. The pool needs a certain amount to heat to a certain temp and will lose a certain amount.
Yes, 75 and cloudy is quite comfortable for swimming as well as many other activities. Ideally the water will be a similar temperature or slightly warmer. If it is particularly cold just be sure not to stay in too long.
As I previously mentioned in my list of pool care essentials, having a thermometer to track your pool temperature is important because algae loves to grow in hotter temperatures––generally 85 degrees or above.
It depends on a few things to determine how long it takes a heat pump to heat a pool. However, overall a heat pump generally heats a pool after 24 to 72 hours by 20-degrees Fahrenheit. For smaller pools like a spa pool, the heat pump can heat a pool between 45 and 60 minutes.
With proper installation and maintenance, a heat pump will generally have a lifespan of about ten years, though many have lasted longer. We at AquaCal have seen some last as long as 15 years! So those are some factors that will affect the lifespan of your heat pump.
Keeping Your Pool Heated
However, since weather can be unpredictable, if you plan to keep your pool open during the colder months, you must keep your water heated well above freezing temperatures. Don't run the risk of ruptured pipes or allowing the cold to cause more expensive damage.
You can add a pool heater to an existing pool. Homeowners can choose to add a solar heater, electric heat pump, or a gas/propane heater to their pool. By doing so, you can keep your pool heated during the cold seasons.